From grief to gift

September 23, 2011

By

Kim Ross

In a single moment of kindess toward a
family in grief, an idea was born that will
help Whitesboro students achieve higher
education
That gift came on the heals of the tragic
death of Dalton Adams, 13 of Whitesboro.
Dalton was a seventh grade student at
Whitesboro when he lost his life in a drunk
driving accident.
On the night the accident occurred,
Brandon E. Brown, 15, of Talihina, was
driving a 2000 Mercury car on a county
dirt road when he lost control of the vehicle.
Brown, along with Adams, and two
other minor children were in the vehicle
when the accident occurred.
Adams was ejected from the car and
pronounced dead at the scene. Brown was
not injured in the accident.
Since that tragic night, Brown has been
charged with first degree manslaughter
along with his grandfather, Elmer Brown
who has been charged with second degree
manslaughter after he allegedly admitted to
buying Brown beer earlier that evening and
allowing him to drive the car.
So where does a family go from there?
According to Dalton's mother, Tammy
Adams, you hold on to your memories and
create new ones. The memories of a son
who loved his family, friends and church.
Remember a son who was a champion
four- wheeler racer in his age bracket that
spent his spare time outdoors hunting or
playing sports. Remember the laughter that
rang through the house as he and his
friends watched movies and wrestled
around. And with these close and dearest
of memories held in the family's heart, they
begin a new memory to honor the gift of
their son's life.
The newest memory
began when a friend of the
family attempted to hold a
benefit dinner for the Adams
family to help with the
burial cost. Tammy decided
that rather than help them,
the money that would be
received from the dinner
would be used to start the
Dalton Adams Scholarship
Fund.
The scholarship will be
made available to
Whitesboro graduating
seniors who are enrolled in
college. The Adams hope
to be able to give each student
a $1500 -$2000
Scholarship to help with
tuition, books, clothing, gas
or other essentials.
As a special reminder of the
classmates who also lost a
close friend in the tragedy,
the Adams family is planning
to offer a scholarship
to each student that was in
Dalton's class upon their
entry to college. The
Whitesboro community has
stepped up to help the
Adams family by helping
them organize a pie auction
and a benefit supper that
both were a success. The
next event set to take place
is in Poteau on October 7 at
the Strike-A-Lot Lanes.
The benefit will involve
games, bowling, galactic
bowling, laser tag and the
viewing of Dalton's favorite
movie "The Fast and
The Furious".
The benefit will take
place from 4 p.m. until 11
p.m. All proceeds will go
toward the Dalton Adams
Scholarship Fund.